Patagonia: Torres del Paine – Guanaco Playland

After the brief detour to share pics of warm, sunny Iguazu Falls, the Patagonia portion continues. On New Year’s Eve, we crossed the Chilean border to experience a completely different landscape. The vegetation on the Chilean side benefited from the winds carrying moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Everything seemed greener and more lush.
Our hike at Torres del Paine National Park commenced with 6 Andean condors soaring overhead. We were instantly transported to a Guanaco Playland. Every turn of the head offered stunning scenery, the cool, strong trademark winds of Patagonia and abundant opportunities to watch the guanacos play. Occasionally we could hear their cries, a high-pitched noise that sounded something like a cross between a horse and a goat.

During our first hike in Torres del Paine, we saw guanacos all over the place.

Littered across the ground, one could see the remains of carcasses and their bleached out skeletons.

The natural terrain was often littered with animal carcasses. This one is the hind quarter of a guanaco.

Lewis, getting where he needs to go, one step at a time.

My friend and trusty hiking companion.

A teenage guanaco pausing to catch his breath after some rigorous playtime.

After playing chase with another guanaco, this little guy needed a breather.